Manchester United News: Nainggolan, Keane, Smalling

Nainggolan Is Manchester United Transfer Target

Manchester United will challenge Chelsea for the Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan this summer.

According to Sky Sports, United boss Jose Mourinho wants Nainggolan to beef up the United midfield. The Belgium international, who turned 29 earlier this month, is regarded as one of Europe’s most sought-after players in that position.

But United face a battle with newly-crowned Premier League champions Chelsea. Nainggolan has already admitted to speaking to Chelsea boss Antonio Conte. That is believed to have happened last summer in the early stages of the Italian’s tenure as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Roma’s response to Chelsea’s approach was to offer Nainggolan an improved contract worth around £120,000 a week.

The west London club are expected to return with a fresh offer this summer. It is likely to be Nainggolan’s last chance of a move away to a major club given that he turns 30 towards the end of next season.

Keane In – Smalling Out?

Meanwhile, a Manchester United move for Burnley central defender Michael Keane could signal the end of Chris Smalling’s time at Old Trafford. England international Smalling has featured in fewer than half of United’s Premier League games this season. He has 13 starts to his name along with five apppearances off the substitutes’ bench. By contrast he has made the starting eleven in 15 matches in various cup competitions.

Smalling fell out favour with United boss Jose Mourinho along with team-mate Luke Shaw when the pair pulled out of the United side that took on Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium in November. Mourinho criticised the two commitment of the two players.

The Times claims that United are ‘very close’ to signing Keane in a deal worth £25million. United sold the 24-year-old to Burnley in January 2015 for £2.5million plus 25 percent of any future fee. It isn’t keen whether the £25million in The Times’ article is before or after the sell-on clause has been applied.

Keane is being tipped to replace Smalling in the United side if the deal goes through.